At the end of her writing career, children’s novel author Atkinson abandoned series books for two standalone stories, this is one, and it’s quite good. Five children are staying for the summer at a cottage run by a middle-aged woman, Miss Shepperson. Returning for a second year are Guin and Margaret. Guin loves riding, and […]

Todd's Blog

04.10.2025

Rereading: THE LOST KING OF OZ BY Ruth Plumly Thompson - Todd's Blog

Thompson chose an interesting topic for this one that Baum never explored: what happened to Ozma’s father? The evil witch Mombi did away with him somehow, but nothing is known about that, and until this book, Mombi herself has long been absent as well. It turns out that, with her magical knowledge removed, she has […]

Todd's Blog

06.10.2025

My Music: JUST FOR A MOMENT - Todd's Blog

I wrote this in November, 1980, and recorded it soon after in my living room studio. It’s another song of romance gone wrong, as many of my songs were at the time, but this one has an ironic bite that I still like. My friend Tim has said it’s his favorite of my songs, which […]

Todd's Blog

08.10.2025

Rereading: SOMETHING ABOUT EVE by James Branch Cabell - Todd's Blog

I’m not sure I would have finished this if it weren’t for the delightful illustrations by Frank C. Papé. In the eleventh book of Cabell’s long series “The biography of Manuel,” there’s plenty of fantasy and whimsy and humor, but also far too much talk and little action. The author seems to be trying to […]

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Rereading: HORSESHOES AND HANDLEBARS by M. E. Atkinson - Todd's Blog

Rereading: THE LOST KING OF OZ BY Ruth Plumly Thompson - Todd's Blog

My Music: JUST FOR A MOMENT - Todd's Blog

Rereading: SOMETHING ABOUT EVE by James Branch Cabell - Todd's Blog

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